Lava Mae Addresses Neighbor Complaints to Keep Haight Street Location

Lava Mae, the nonprofit which operates mobile hygiene services including bathrooms and showers, temporarily ceased Haight street operations earlier this April in response to neighbor complaints.

In May 2017, neighborhood groups including HANC supported the addition of the mobile operator to supplement existing services offered to area homeless. After a number of possible locations in the neighborhood were evaluated, the curbside outside of the Larkin Street Referral Center at 1317 Haight Street was chosen. The original idea was that by locating near another service provider with a drop-in, clients could wait for their shower slot comfortably inside. However over time, Lava Mae found that a number of their clients did not fall within Larkin’s client restriction which is ages 12-24 so the line of waiting shower clients was moved onto the sidewalk.

Neighbors took note and started to complain that the adjacent sidewalks had become impassible on the Thursdays when the showers were in operation from 10am to 4pm. Therefore, to address the neighbor complaints, Lava Mae devised a new line management system using walkie talkies so clients could wait in nearby Buena Vista park. The new approach has been in effect since April 19th and so far no new complaints have arisen.

Lava Mae can use your support to stay in the neighborhood. If you are interested in writing a letter of support, please mail or email it to HANC (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). We will keep you apprised on any new developments.